For almost 100 years, visitors have flocked to Rock City for both its unique ancient rock formations and its elaborate gardens gracing the top of Lookout Mountain. The 4,100-foot walking trail that winds through the mountainside allows visitors to cross the Swing-A-Long Bridge over a deep ravine, pause at the impressive massive waterfall and see seven states on a clear day from Lover’s Leap. There’s even an underground Fairyland featuring fairytales for kids of all ages to enjoy.
It’s an extravagant garden carved out of majestic geological wonders and enhanced with a magical element.
Rock City was the brainchild of Lookout Mountain residents Garnet and Frieda Carter. Garnet worked at developing a residential neighborhood on the mountain called Fairyland, named for Frieda’s interest in European folklore. He added to the community what he called Tom Thumb Golf, the nation’s first miniature golf course. Meanwhile, Frieda was putting her hands in the soil to create a 700-acre garden where Rock City exists today, marking the pathway with red string for her “Enchanted Trail” and adding German statues of gnomes and fairytale characters.
The Carters realized visitors would pay to see the unique geological outcroppings, accented by Frieda’s gardens and folklore elements. They advertised the attraction by painting “See Rock City” on the roofs of barns across the country—another trail blaze for the couple, the first highway billboards! This ingenious marketing enticed people to view one of the most unique natural attractions in the world right outside Chattanooga, Tennessee.
And it worked. Today, more than a half million visitors enjoy Rock City every year, one of the South’s most popular attractions. And this year promises to add more sparkle to Garnet and Frieda’s vision with Rock City Seasons, four distinct themed seasons each featuring special celebrations, performances, activities, photo opportunities and more.
Rock City Seasons includes Spring Blooms of flowers and art installations, Mountaintop Summers for those balmy days atop Lookout Mountain, Fall Colors with seasonal decorations and HoliDAYS, the daytime complement to the long-standing Enchanted Garden of Lights, which turns 30 this year.
New for 2024 is Rock City Nights: Flora Luna, the attraction’s inaugural food and culinary event happening nightly at twilight through May 12. Visitors may wine and dine and enjoy original artwork in the gardens accented by softly lit lanterns. For the first time, visitors may follow Frieda Carter’s original sketch for the Enchanted Trail by following a red string through the gardens and be one of the first to cross the Swing-A-Long Bridge at night!
Flora Luna hours are 6 to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 6 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available online only at www.SeeRockCity.com/floraluna.
So much of Garnet and Frieda Carter’s vision remains in the magical acreage on top of Lookout Mountain. Its why families return year after year and new generations fall in love with Rock City’s gardens, unique natural landscape, and Frieda’s adoration of fairy tales. And with the new Rock City Seasons, one of America’s most treasured attractions will continue to create memories worth repeating.
Rock City is really a place like no other. Its uniqueness must be experienced to understand the Carters’ true genius. Like Garnet Carter advertised on barns, you must “See Rock City.”
